Gaston County west of Charlotte sits within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone of McGuire Nuclear Station placing over 200000 residents in the nuclear EPZ. The Catawba River and Crowders Creek create flooding risk. The county faces moderate tornado risk and was struck by a tornado in 2020. Gaston County is a major textile and manufacturing hub historically and serves as part of the Charlotte western suburban ring.
// Preparedness Recommendations
- Identify an interior room or storm shelter.
- Monitor NOAA weather alerts continuously.
- Keep emergency kit accessible at all times.
- Prepare for sudden power outages.
// Recommended Supplies
Essential gear for power outages, severe weather, and emergency situations in your area.
- Emergency Food Supplies
- Water Filtration & Storage
- Backup Generator
- Solar Backup Power
- Potassium Iodide (KI) Tablets
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// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 6 / 10 Moderate Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Tornado / Nuclear Proximity |
| Secondary Hazard | Catawba River Flooding |
| FEMA Flood Zone | High |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 6 |
| Last Major Event | 2020 Tornado |
| Event Frequency | Annual |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (704) 862-7550 |
| Emergency Shelters | 10 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | I-85 US-321 NC-275 NC-7 |
// County Profile
| County | Gaston County NC |
| State | North Carolina (NC) |
| Population | 229 |
| Area | 356 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | High |
// Major Cities
// Cities in This County
// Other North Carolina Counties
New Hanover County NC
Hurricane / Storm Surge
9/10
Critical
Brunswick County NC
Hurricane / Storm Surge
8/10
High
Buncombe County NC
Flash Flooding / Hurricane
8/10
High
Onslow County NC
Hurricane / Flooding
8/10
High
Jones County NC
Hurricane / Flash Flooding
7/10
Moderate
Pitt County NC
Hurricane / Flash Flooding
7/10
High